Stellenbosch FC registered their third Betway Premiership win of the season when they edged out Marumo Gallants 1-0 at the DHL Cape Town Stadium on Thursday night.
The win elevated Stellies to the fourth in the league standings after returning to winning ways and they will be looking to make it two victories when they take on Gallants in a Carling Knockout quarterfinal match on Sunday in Polokwane.
A win for Stellies means they move up into the top 4 on the log 🔝
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 31, 2024
Will Gallants get their revenge when the two teams meet again for their #CarlingKnockout fixture on the weekend? 👀#BetwayPrem | #SSDiski pic.twitter.com/LVU0PtTp9p
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa, on the other hand, saw their three-match unbeaten run come to an end, which sees them placed 14th in the standings and they will be seeking revenge when they host Stellenbosch in a cup match.
Stellies controlled the match from the start and they used a lot of wing play with Fawaaz Basadien's cross finding Ashley Cupido in the box, but the striker failed to keep his attempt on target in the seventh minute.
Sanele Barns was afforded space and time to shoot from on the edge of the Gallants box in the 40th minute, but his goal-bound shot was bravely blocked by Thapelo Mokobodi and the score was 0-0 during the half-time break in the Mother City.
Coach Dan Malesela introduced Sekela Sithole and Phathutshedzo Nange in the second half just after hour-mark as Bahlabane Ba Ntwa looked to take control of the match and possibly take the lead.
However, Stellies looked dangerous whenever they played balls into the visitors' box.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 76th minute when Thabo Moloisane netted with a header to seal Stellenbosch's 1-0 win after Gallants had failed to clear Basadien's corner-kick.
Stellenbosch 1 (Moloisane 76')
Gallants 0
Stellenbosch: Stephens, Moloisane, Jurgens (Jurgens 64'), Basadien, Toure, Barns, Nduli (Jabaar 72'), Titus, Butsaka, De Jong (Palace 72'), Cupido (Lekoloane 80').
Gallants: Arubi, Sikhosana, Mabotja, Mathiane, Mokobodi (M. Khumalo 84'), Msendami, Mlambo (Nange 64'), Dhludhlu (Mahlatsi 73'), Shai, Mphambaniso (Sithole 63'), E. Khumalo.